wonted

adjective

wont·​ed ˈwȯn-təd How to pronounce wonted (audio) ˈwōn- How to pronounce wonted (audio)
 also  ˈwən-,
 or  ˈwän-
: usual or ordinary especially by reason of established habit
spoke with his wonted slowness
wontedly adverb
wontedness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for wonted

usual, customary, habitual, wonted, accustomed mean familiar through frequent or regular repetition.

usual stresses the absence of strangeness or unexpectedness.

my usual order for lunch

customary applies to what accords with the practices, conventions, or usages of an individual or community.

the customary waiting period before the application is approved

habitual suggests a practice settled or established by much repetition.

a habitual morning routine

wonted stresses habituation but usually applies to what is favored, sought, or purposefully cultivated.

his wonted determination

accustomed is less emphatic than wonted or habitual in suggesting fixed habit or invariable custom.

accepted the compliment with her accustomed modesty

Examples of wonted in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web His wonted improvisations and other departures from the script did not suggest his usual ease. Matthew Walther, TheWeek, 13 Mar. 2020 Egypt chose a different path, preferring to return to the wonted pain of dysfunctional autocracy and avoid civil war (although civil war seems even still to be creeping up on the Egyptians out of Sinai and Libya). Kenneth M. Pollack, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2016

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wonted.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wonted was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near wonted

Cite this Entry

“Wonted.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wonted. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

wonted

adjective
: customary sense 2
acted with their wonted politeness
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